Boykin got to know Dawson during his recruitment. He told the sophomore he went down the same road. Boykin was a backup as a freshman before becoming a starter as a sophomore.

“You’re still young,” Boykin told him.

Dawson said he believes he’s able to help Georgia’s secondary. He is being a team player now and supporting his teammates, including Langley, who was beat on two touchdown passes against South Carolina.

“I picked him up every time he came to the sideline,” Dawson said.

Knee and shoulder injuries in the preseason set Dawson back, but he’s better now.

“I’m healthy,” Dawson said. “I feel like myself. I feel like I’m able to go. Sometimes it might not look like it to other people, but I feel like I’m pretty good now.”

Dawson has looked within to try to get on the field, saying he’s asked himself, “Are you doing what you’ve got to do every day to be out on the field? Are you going the extra mile? … Nobody’s going to give it to you. Nobody’s going to say, ‘Well, you had a couple of good scrimmages, here you go.’”

Dawson made interceptions in spring and preseason scrimmages, but he said Monday that, yes, he got beat at times, but that comes with the position.

Dawson said he played one defensive snap so far in two games, which came against Clemson.

He’s hoping for more.

“We’re all fighting to get on the field,” he said.

Morgan back on PATs

Patrick Beless has made all 10 extra points he’s attempted this season, but the walk-on will make way for regular kicker Marshall Morgan to handle point after touchdowns this week.

Coach Mark Richt said Beless could have handled that responsibility, but Morgan will resume that role after being suspended two games after his boating under the influence arrest.

“You could do that, but I think if you went strictly by what they’ve done in practice and you were trying to compete and decide who would be the guy with extra points, short-range and long-range field goals, it would all be Marshall right now,” Richt said.

Morgan ranked 12th in the SEC last year in extra point percentage at 94.0 (63 of 67). Richt told Beless “to stay ready.”

Marshall will take over on kickoffs for punter Collin Barber, who had three touchbacks on 12 kicks.

“Marshall’s got that,” Barber said. “I’m not the caliber that Marshall’s at right now. … I can’t hit the hang times that he can and the distance.”

Former Bulldogs Adams dies

Scott Adams, a starting offensive lineman for Georgia in 1987 and 1988 who went on to play seven seasons in the NFL, died Monday in Oconee County at the age of 46, according to Georgia

No cause of death was provided.

Adams in 1987 was part of an offensive line that helped Georgia to the fifth best rushing total in program history. He was a second-team All-SEC pick in 1988. He went on to play for the Vikings, Saints, Bears, Buccaneers and Falcons.

Quick hits

Georgia and LSU will play on Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m. in the showcase CBS national game of the week, The game between the No. 9 Bulldogs and No. 6 Tigers in Sanford Stadium would be the third top-10 opponent for Georgia already this season, assuming LSU gets by Auburn at home this Saturday. … Tight end Jay Rome said the sprained ankle that kept him out of the South Carolina game “is obviously frustrating, but it’s nothing that’s had me down or anything.” Rome re-injured the ankle hurt in the preseason when a player rolled up on it against Clemson, forcing him to miss the second half. “I’m good now,” he said.